Picking the right body style is the most important leasing decision you will make before you even think about brands or monthly payments. Get it right and the car fits your life. Get it wrong and you spend two to four years compromising. This guide covers the body styles available at LeaseCar, what each one suits, and where to go once you have found your match.
Key facts
LeaseCar offers hatchbacks, SUVs, saloons, estates, city cars, coupes, convertibles, MPVs and pickups
The right body style depends on your daily use, not the car you have always driven
Leasing lets you try a different body style every few years with no resale risk
Start here: which kind of driver are you?
Answer these six questions before you browse a single model.
Mostly short urban journeys, limited parking? Start with a city car or small hatchback
Family, long journeys or a dog? Look at estates, larger hatchbacks or SUVs
Business driver with regular motorway miles? Saloon or estate; electric currently gives a strong BiK advantage
Comfort and style matter as much as practicality? Saloon, coupe, premium SUV or convertible
Need seven seats or serious towing? Large SUV, MPV or pickup
Budget is the priority? City cars and hatchbacks offer the widest affordable choice
Everyday and urban cars
The most widely chosen body styles. Between them, city cars and hatchbacks cover the majority of UK drivers' real-world needs.
City car
The smallest body type; built specifically for urban driving and tight parking
Significantly shorter than a hatchback: easy to manoeuvre and park in confined spaces
Most of LeaseCar's city car range is now fully electric, a natural fit for short daily journeys
Good for: first-time lessees, urban-only drivers, second-car households
Less suited to: regular long motorway runs or carrying more than two adults regularly
Check out our city car lease deals
Hatchback
The UK's most popular body style: a practical boot that opens as part of the rear of the car
Five-door layouts carry four or five people comfortably, suited to mixed urban and motorway use
Widest range of prices, models and fuel types of any body style
Good for: most drivers; the versatile default choice when no specific use case dominates
Less suited to: large families needing maximum boot space or regular seven-seat use
Check out our hatchback lease deals
Family and load-carrying cars
When space, practicality and the ability to carry everyone and everything are the priority.
Estate
A saloon-style car with an extended roofline and a significantly larger boot, typically 500 litres or more
Carries the same number of people as a hatchback but far more load
Often more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient at motorway speeds than an equivalent SUV
Good for: families, regular long journeys, drivers who carry large or irregular loads
Less suited to: drivers who prioritise ride height or need genuine off-road ability
Take a look at our estate car lease deals
MPV (people carrier)
Designed to maximise passenger space: most seat seven, some seat eight or more
Sliding rear doors make access easier than a conventional car, especially in tight car parks
Different from an SUV: the priority is passenger comfort, not ride height or off-road ability
Good for: large families, school runs, group transport, businesses moving people
Less suited to: drivers who do not regularly need seven or more seats
SUVs, crossovers and 4x4s
The fastest-growing category in the UK and currently the most leased. SUVs cover a wide range of sizes and needs.
Compact crossover and mid-size SUV
Raised ride height versus a hatchback: better visibility, easier entry and exit
Compact crossovers are hatchback-sized with an SUV look; mid-size SUVs are the UK's most leased cars
Available across petrol, hybrid, PHEV and electric; strong choice for mixed-terrain family use
Good for: families, school-run drivers, mixed-road use, anyone who wants more road presence
Trade-off vs hatchback: slightly higher monthly payments; marginally higher fuel use
Trade-off vs estate: less boot capacity but better ground clearance and a more versatile feel
Large SUV and 4x4
Genuine off-road capability alongside seven-seat configurations and premium interiors
Models like the Land Rover Defender and BMW X7 combine luxury with serious practicality
Depreciation on premium large SUVs is significant: leasing is the most sensible way to access this tier
Good for: prestige-conscious drivers, rural use, families needing seven seats with style
Saloons and coupes
Four-door refinement and executive credentials. The saloon remains the first choice for business drivers and long-distance motorway commuters.
Saloon
Three-box design: engine, cabin and boot as distinct separate sections
Quieter at motorway speeds than most hatchbacks; better aerodynamic efficiency than most crossovers
Electric saloons currently attract a 4% BiK tax: the most compelling company car argument right now
Good for: business drivers, motorway commuters, drivers who prioritise refinement over cargo volume
Saloon vs estate: saloons carry people better; estates carry things better
Take a look at our latest saloon lease deals
Coupe
A distinctive sloping roofline: sportier and lower than a saloon, often with sharper handling
Rear headroom is reduced; not the best primary family car but excellent for two or three people
Models include the Audi A5, BMW 4 Series and Mercedes-Benz CLA
Good for: style-focused drivers, couples, those who want executive quality with a sportier look
Take a look at our latest coupe lease deals
Open-top and specialist vehicles
Not for everyone, but exactly right for those they suit.
Convertible
A retractable roof, fabric or hardtop, operated at the push of a button on modern models
Boot space is reduced compared with equivalent hardtops; rear seats are typically compact
Leasing suits a convertible well: enjoy it for the term, hand it back, no depreciation concern
Good for: second-car drivers, aspirational leases, drivers who want something seasonal and memorable
Pickup truck
A car-like cab combined with an open load bed: practical load-carrying alongside daily driving
Tax treatment for business drivers can make pickups an attractive company vehicle choice
Models include the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara
Good for: tradespeople, rural drivers, those needing genuine towing and load capacity
A Note on Fuel Types
Every body style above is available in multiple fuel types, and fuel type can be as important as body style.
Petrol and mild hybrid: familiar and accessible; suits lower-mileage drivers across all body types
Full hybrid: self-charging, no plug required; strong choice for city cars, hatchbacks and SUVs
PHEV: electric range for daily driving, petrol for longer runs
Pure electric: lowest running costs; currently 4% BiK; best with home or workplace charging
Diesel: still practical for very high mileage motorway driving; available on estates, large SUVs and pickups
Electric car leasing deals | PHEV leasing deals | Diesel leasing deals
Frequently asked questions
What is the best car style to lease in the UK?
What is the best car style to lease in the UK?
There is no single answer. For most drivers, a hatchback or compact SUV covers the widest range of needs. For families: an estate or larger SUV. For business drivers: a saloon or electric. For urban use: a city car. Use the self-selector near the top of this page as your starting point.
Is an SUV better to lease than a hatchback?
Is an SUV better to lease than a hatchback?
It depends on the driver. SUVs offer more road presence and a higher seating position. Hatchbacks are typically more affordable, more fuel-efficient and easier to park. For most urban drivers a hatchback does the job at a lower monthly payment. For families and mixed terrain, the SUV advantage becomes clearer.
What is the difference between an estate and an SUV?
What is the difference between an estate and an SUV?
An estate sits low to the ground with a large extended boot, typically 500 litres or more. It is more aerodynamic and often more fuel-efficient than an SUV at motorway speeds. An SUV offers higher ground clearance, more off-road ability and a more commanding road position. Estates are better for pure load-carrying; SUVs are better for mixed terrain and larger-family versatility.
Which body style is best for a first lease?
Which body style is best for a first lease?
A hatchback or city car is the most straightforward first lease: accessible monthly payments, the widest range of models and simple running costs.
What is an MPV and how is it different from an SUV?
What is an MPV and how is it different from an SUV?
An MPV is designed to carry the maximum number of passengers in the most comfortable way possible, usually with sliding rear doors. An SUV can also seat seven in larger configurations but its priority is road versatility and style. MPVs are better for dedicated passenger carrying; SUVs offer more road presence and off-road ability alongside their seating.
Browse by body style
Find your style and go straight to the deals. The team is available Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5:30pm if you want to talk it through.
Estates | MPVs | Coupes | Convertibles | Pickups
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